RIP: Bob Day, 67

[gh]

former UCLA mile great, this morning in SoCal. Am I correct in recalling he had some obscure record like being the first guy ever to run a sub-4:00 where each lap was faster than the one before?

[DoubleRBar]

Wow, that's a shock. I remember Bob at San Marino High when he ran about 4:16. I'm not sure if he still has the UCLA mile record. Very sad news and he was so young. I'll always think of him as young even though he was born before me.

[LopenUupunut]

former UCLA mile great, this morning in SoCal. Am I correct in recalling he had some obscure record like being the first guy ever to run a sub-4:00 where each lap was faster than the one before?

One obscure record he certainly holds is being the youngest sub-4 miler ever for the shortest time.

[DoubleRBar]

Bob first broke four minutes at the age of 19. He ran under four June 5, 1964 (and wouldn't turn 20 until October of 1964). Jim Ryun first broke four minutes in the same race, but he was one-tenth of a second in back of Bob. Ryun was 17 at the time.

[runforlife]

One obscure record he certainly holds is being the youngest sub-4 miler ever for the shortest time.

I would suppose then that he was probably the first teenager to break 4 min.
Is there a cronological list of teen sub 4's?

[slowcat]

GH- I believe Bob Day was the first athlete to run exactly a 4:00 minute mile. He did it in the 1966 Oregon -UCLA dual meet. Jim Grelle took the license plater off of his car and gave it to Day. The license plate was DAY 400. The 1966 UCLA team was extraordinarily talented .

[kuha]

GH- I believe Bob Day was the first athlete to run exactly a 4:00 minute mile. He did it in the 1966 Oregon -UCLA dual meet. Jim Grelle took the license plater off of his car and gave it to Day. The license plate was DAY 400. The 1966 UCLA team was extraordinarily talented .

As every t&f trivia nut knows, Derek Ibbotson was the first run four flat; perhaps Day was the first American to do it..?

[slowcat]

Of course, you are correct.

[DoubleRBar]

Not only was Derek Ibbotson the first to run 4:00.0, but he also finished fourth in that race. I'm not sure if he was wearing number four, but I wouldn't be surprised.

[lovetorun]

Sad to hear this news...Bob Day had this beautiful fluid stride...a gifted runner and we are the same age, 67. I will always think of him as young also...

[wamego relays champ]

I'm not sure if he still has the UCLA mile record.

According to UCLA, Day's school record was eclipsed in 2005 by Jon Rankin.

http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-track/spec-rel/081805aab.html

(Note: Were UCLA to apply T&FN's standard for collegiate records, it appears that Day would still hold the school record and Rankin's mark would be separately noted as a "Mark Made Outside Regular Collegiate Season")

.

[runforlife]

[quote="wamego relays champ"According to UCLA, Day's school record was eclipsed in 2005 by Jon Rankin.[/quote]
The article said that Rankin was running for Nike. What happened to him? I haven't heard about him in the past 7 years. But then I may not have been paying attention.

[G.Ahearn]

. . . and as many T&F trivia fans know, Herb Elliott was the first teenager to run sub-4.

[wamego relays champ]

"wamego relays champ wrote"

According to UCLA, Day's school record was eclipsed in 2005 by Jon Rankin.

The article said that Rankin was running for Nike. What happened to him? I haven't heard about him in the past 7 years. But then I may not have been paying attention.

An article linked on the front page yesterday called "Jon Rankin finds his way" reveals the answer to this question.

He has faced off with kidney disease and is now competing for the Cayman Islands (birthplace of both his parents). Placed 4th in the 2011 Pan Am Games 1500 in 3:54.79.

Personal website is here: http://chasingjonrankin.com/

.